Convertible sofa with twin spring-mattresses



CONVERTIBLE SOFA WITH TWIN SPRING-MATTRESSES Filed March e, 1959 5 sheets-sheet 1 Fig. 3.

3,025,535 CONVERTIBLE SOFA WITH TWIN SPRING-MATTRESSES Filed March 6, 1959 A. DUCROT March 20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 20, 1962 A. DUcRoT 3,025,535

CONVERTIBLE som WITH TWIN sPRING-MATTREssEs Filed March e, 1959 5 sheets-sheet s March 20, 1962 A, DUCRO-r 3,025,535

CONVERTIBLE SOFA WITH TWIN SPRING-MATTRESSES Filed March G, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 20, 1962 A. DUCROT 3,025,535

CONVERTIBLE SOFA WITH TWIN SPRING-MATTRESSES Filed March 6, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Oiice 3,@25535 Patented Mar. 2U, i952 3,025,535 CNVER'HBLE @UFA WITH TWLN SPRING-MATTRESSES Albert Ducrot, 75 Bd. Maiesherbes, Paris, France Filed Mar. 6, i959, Ser. No. 797,790 Claims priority, appiication France May 2, 1958 4 Ciainxs. (Cl. 5-42) This invention relates to a folding and generally metallic apparatus adapted to constitute at will either a twin bed or a sofa.

Apparatus of this generai character are already known wherein the spring mattress comprises a single trame consisting of longitudinal beams hingedly interconnected on one another in the longitudinal direction. The legs supporting the apparatus are pivoted in turn on these longitudinal beams and links interconnect these beams and legs to permit the folding and unfolding of the apparatus by a single movement, and to lock the hingedly interconnected elements in the two positions of use of the apparatus.

In the case of a twin bed (see FIG. l) the width of the spring mattress ranges from 47 to 63 and this mattress is characterized by the well-known hammock effect, i.e. the sagging of the springs in the transverse direction, as shown by the chain-dotted line in FIG. l illustrating in cross-section a conventional bed of relatively great width. Now a spring-mattress of this type is very uncomfortable for the heavier occupant forms a cavity in the springmattress while the other lies on an inclined plane and tends constantly to roll or slip towards this cavity.

Now it is the essential object of this invention to avoid thisdrawback which is particularly serious in the case of a convertible sofa. As a matter of fact, in an apparatus of this type the volume available for enclosing the bedding is limited by the dimensional requirements of the sofa, inasmuch as a certain amount of ilexibility must be reserved for the bedding; the height or thickness of the spring and mattress assembly must not exceed 4 to 6 inches and this leads to the exclusive use of relatively flat spring-mattresses of which the only bearing points are the lateral longitudinal beams; in these double-width spring-mattresses the hammock effect is considerably greater than in conventional braced spring-mattresses having biconical springs.

Consequently, this invention provides a convertible sofa-bed adapted to be unfolded in the longitudinal direction of the bed to form a twin bed, which comprises successive intermediate and end elements hingedly interconnected by means of transverse pivot pins, two chests mounted on the end elements to constitute therewith the back of the seat or the head of the bed and the seat proper or the foot of the bed respectively, lateral supporting legs pivoted on said intermediate elements, lateral links interconnecting said elements with one another and with said legs, and means provided for enabling the chest mounted on the element forming therewith the seat or the foot of the bed to tilt about this element in order to bring same in a low position and to increase the distance from the head to the foot of the bed in the bed position of the apparatus, the spring-mattress frame of the bed consisting of said intermediate elements and of the end element forming at the same time, with the chests mounted thereon, the seat or the foot of the bed, and said chests being placed at right angle to the plane of said spring-mattress frame in the bed position of the apparatus, characterized notably in that said spring-mattress frame comprises an axial longitudinal carrier beam pivoted on pivot pins registering with the transverse pivot pins of said elements, that springs are arranged between said axial beam and the sides of said elements forming the spring-mattress frame to constitute twin spring mattresses, that axial legs which do not protrude above the plane of the spring-mattress frame are pivoted by means of pivot pins on said axial beam and register in transverse alignment with the lateral legs of said intermediate elements, and that tie embers are provided for rigidly assembling said lateral legs with said axial legs in order to stiien said springmattress frame and permit the transmission of the movements controlled by said lateral links.

The spring mattress stiiiened by the longitudinal axial beam and supported by the axial legs, is actually divided into two single spring-mattresses disposed side by side and adapted to be covered by two juxtaposed mattresses, as the new axial members do not protrude .above the plane of the spring mattress. Thus, in a same convertible sofa for two occupants there are two bed-forming planes having separate suspension meansi, and the occupants are delivered from the hammock effect.

According to a specic form of embodiment of this invention, the apparatus comp-rises four elements hingedly interconnected in succession in the longitudinal direction of the bed, and the spring-mattress frame consists of two intermediate elements and also of one end element constituting the toot of the bed or the seat, according to the position of the device.

Lateral legs are pivoted on the aforesaid intermediate elements, one pair of these legs constituting the fixed bearing about which the assembly of the soia-bed is pivoted when the latter is being folded or unfolded. Adequate panels adapted to conceal the mechanism may be mounted on the lateral links.

The pivoted longitudinal axial beam may consist or" a pair of parallel adjacent pivoted longitudinal members interconnected by short distance-pieces at a few points therealong, for example at two points. The pivot pins of the longitudinal members and those of the pivoted axial legs are mounted in this case between the two parallel longitudinal members.

Spring jacks are preferably provided between the sides of an intermediate element and the lateral legs mounted in this side. Their purpose is to retard the opening or unfolding movement of the convertible sofa, in order to prevent the end elements from being carried along too rapidly by their weight and, conversely, to facilitate the lifting of these elements when the sofa bed is folded back to its sofa condition.

In order to aiord a clearer understanding of this invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing a conventional twin bed;

Fi'GURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing a convertible sofa constructed according to the teachings of this invention in its bed position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of this apparatus in its sofa or folded position;

FIGURE 4 is a lateral View showing the convertible sofa in its folded position, the covering being removed to illustrate the mechanism;

FGURE 5 is a similar view of the apparatus but unfolded in the longitudinal direction of the bed;

FIGURE 6 is a plane view of the apparatus in its unfolded condition;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken upon the line VII--VII of FIG. 6.

The convertible sofa according to this invention comprises four `successive elements 1, 2, 3, 4 pivoted about transverse pivot pins 5, 6, 7. The two intermediate elements 2, 3 are co-extensive (in the bed position) as shown in FIG. 5; the arrow 17 indicates that the bed is unfolded in its longitudinal direction; the two end elements 1, 4 constitute in this case the two end panels of the bed and the ends of the spring-mattress plane. In the sofa position illustrated in FIG. 4, the two intermediate elements 2, 3 are folded substantially at right angles to each other, the two end elements 1, 4 being folded on the adjacent intermediate elements 2, 3 respectively, and forming the seat and back of the sofa, respectively.

The pivoted elements 1, 2, 3, 4 are interconnected with one another, on both sides of the apparatus, by means of links 9, 10, 11, 12., 13, 14, 1S and 16 during their rotation about their pivot pins.

These sets of lateral links ensure the relative interdependence in the pivoting movements of elements 1, 2, 3, 4 about their pivot pins 5, 6, 7, and as a result the passage from the bed position to the seat or sofa position, or vice versa, takes place in a single operation. On the other hand, these sets of links ensure the simultaneous locking of elements 1, 2, 3, 4 in the bed or in the sofa position, as these elements are then safely locked with respect to one another.

The apparatus comprises, on either side, legs 1.9, 2i!

pivoted on the hingedly interconnected elements. Legs 19 comprises an oblique branch 18 extending towards the foot 1 of the bed in order to reinforce the support in this zone, and link 2lb connected to leg 26 by link 21a constitutes on either side of the apparatus a fourth bearing point 8 on the oor for the unfolded convertible sofa. The legs 19 and 20 consist respectively of the extensions of links 1t) and 13, and links 21a and 2lb are mounted on legs 29 at 53, and elements 3 at 54 respectively. Thus, the angular movements of legs 19 and Zit, on the one hand, and of links 21a, 2lb on the other hand, are combined with those of elements 1 to about their pivot pins 5, 6 and 7. In the bed position the legs are locked as well as the link assembly and occupy the positions shown in FIG. 5. In the sofa position the element 3 is folded against legs 2t), and the arms 21a and 2lb are folded on element 3 (FIG. 4) whereas legs I9 form a small angle with the element 2, and the oblique branches 18 are lifted under the seat, the latter `bearing on the oor through the medium of casters or like wheels carried by the legs 19 and 2t). During the opening and closing movements of the apparatus the legs 20 remain stationary and constitute the xed member about which the other elements of the assembly are pivoted.

If desired, lateral panels 24 may be provided to conceal the mechanism in combination with the chests of the back and seat portions in the sofa position of the apparatus. These panels 24 are each mounted on a pair of arms 22 and 23 carried for example by each link 2lb.

Other lateral panels 25 and 35 are provided which act as covering elements and also as means for protecting the bedding from being pinched between the links during the folding operation.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the element 4 is substantially of l. configuration. Its arm 34 adjacent to pivot pin 7 and element 3 are substantially co-extensive with the intermediate elements 2, 3 in the bed position so that a bed length greater than the combined lengths of these intermediate elements 2, 3 may be obtained. On the other hand, when the elements 1 and 4 are folded to the seat position illustrated in FIG. 4, the arm 34 and element 1 extend substantially at right angles to each other and assist in providing a sufficient volume for enclosing the mattress and the bedding between the elements 2 and 3 on the one hand and the other portions of elements 1 and 4 constituting the seat and back of the sofa, respectively, on the other hand.

A spring jack 33 is mounted between the leg 19 and the element 2, on either side of the apparatus.

The jack spring is expanded when the apparatus is in its sofa position (FIG. 4). When the bed is being opened,

the jack piston compresses the spring as the elements 1 on the one hand and 3, 4 on the other hand moveaway from the intermediate element 2 by pivoting about pins 5 and 6. Thus, the spring exerts a retarding action counteracting the fall of the relatively heavy assembly of elements 1, 3 and 4, together with the chest and other parts carried thereby. Conversely, when the spring is compressed in the bed position of the apparatus (FIG. 6), it tends to expand and consequently to raise the elements 1, 3 and 4 together with the chest and other parts carried thereby, so that the bed may be folded without requiring a substantital lifting effort on the end elements, This is particularly advantageous in the case of a twin bed constituting an object particularly heavy to handle.

In order to reinforce the action of the spring jacks 33, traction springs 81 are attached on either side of the apparatus between the legs 20 and links 2lb, as illustrated in FIG. 5. These traction springs 81 are expanded in the sofa position of the apparatus (they have been omitted from FIG. 4 in order to avoid any undue complication in the drawing) and tensioned when the bed is open, thus retarding the -fall of elements 3 and 4 at the end of the opening movement and facilitating the lifting of these elements when the bed is re-closed.

FIG. 6 illustrates the spring-mattress 82 of the convertible sofa in its open position. Its frame consists of the intermediate elements 2, 3 and of element 1. Transverse members 46 constitute the transverse sides of the frame. This frame is reinforced in the direction of its longitudinal axis by an axial longitudinal carrier beam S3 consisting of two parallel and closely-spaced longitudinal beams 36, for example angle-irons (FIG. 2), pivoted on transverse pivot pins 37, 38 registering with the aforesaid transverse pivot pins 5, 6 respectively. Short distance-pieces 40, 41 interconnect the two sets of pivoted longitudinal beams. Axial legs 42, 43 (FIG. 7) which do not protrude above the plane of the springmattress are pivoted on pivot pins 44, 45 mounted between the two sets of aligned longitudinal beams; these legs register in turn with the lateral legs 19 and 20 described hereinabove.

A tubular distance-piece 29 interconnects the lateral legs 19 and axial leg 42, and an angle-section distanced piece 30 interconnects the lateral legs 20 and axial legs 43. The arms 21a, 2lb are pivoted at their ends on apivot pin 32 disposed under the head of the bed.

Gusset or like plates 39 reinforce the four corners of the spring mattress iframe. Leaf springs 27 and tension springs 28 are disposed between the sides of elements 1, 2, 3 and the axial longitudinal beams 36, as well as between the transverse members 46 constituting the end elements of the spring-mattress frame.

FIGS. 2 and 6 show clearly that in this type of apparatus the bed comprises two juxtaposed spring-mattresses, each for one person, on which two twin mattresses 47, or if desired a single wide mattress, may be placed. FIG. 2 shows in chain-dotted lines the single spring-mattress replaced according to this invention by two juxtaposed twin spring-mattresses.

The end elements 1 and 4 constitute in the known fashion the seat and back of the sofa.

The convertible sofa according to this invention cornprises similarly a seat chest 49 on the element 1, which constitutes at the same time the foot of the bed and is reinforced by a transverse stitfener 48, a back chest 50 mounted on the element 4 and constituting at the same time the head of the bed, and the conventional trimmings, paddings and coverings for the seat and back, as well as a panel or trimming 51 tightened between the two lateral panels 24 for concealing the spring-mattress at the rear ofl the sofa when the apparatus is folded.

The element 1 comprises on either side of the apparatus a perpendicular bracket 76 having pivoted thereon at 74 and 75 a pair of parallel links 7@ and 71 pivote@ at their opposite ends on the `seat 4chest 419 by means of pivot pins 72, 73.

With this mounting it is possible to tilt the seat chest 49 over the elements 1 due to the parallel motion assembly 70, 71 to obtain the bed position, and to fold it back to the seat position in which it rests on the ends 77 of elements 1 and is held in addition by the parallel motion assembly of which one link, for instance 70, is connected by means of an angle extension 78 and a link 80 to a pivot pin 79 carried by the intermediate elements 2. In the bed position of the assembly the links 78 and 80 limit the downward tilting of the chest. In this position, the lower portion of the chest lies well beneath the bedding level, thus reducing the height of the foot of the bed, and the bottom of the chest is moved outwards by the ends 77 of the elements, thus increasing the length of the bed which is the distance obtaining between the head and the foot of the bed.

This convertible sofa is perfectly stable in either position and can be transformed very easily by a single movement in one or the other direction; in addition it is advantageous in that it comprises twin spring-mattresses considerably less liable to deformation, and more comfortable, than conventional spring-mattresses, that it has a lower bed foot and a greater bedding length for an ordinary over-all dimension of the apparatus folded to its sofa condition.

The following addi-tional advantages may be observed in the drawings, notably in FIGS. 4 and 5 thereof:

(l) The seat-forming portions (i.e. seat 49 and back 50) lined with upholstery fabric are located externally of the bedding portion in the open or bed-forming position of the apparatus, thus avoiding any risk of soiling them;

(2) The seat cushions may form an integral part of the seat chest 49 since it is not necessary to remove them prior to opening the apparatus; therefore, only one movement is required for either opening or closing the convertible sofa;

(3) If it is desired to provide the apparatus with armrests, these may be connected to the end elements carrying the seat and back chests; thus, these arm-rests will be carried along by these chests when the apparatus is being opened, or retracted in the bed position of the apparatus; thus the cumbersomeness usually characterizing fixed arm-rests is avoided.

It is another advantageous feature of this invention that the bedding may be left complete with sheets, covers and pillows when folding the apparatus; the axial carrier beam without any links protruding above the plane of the springmattresses permits the separate preparation of two juxtaposed beds with their individual beddings, or the preparation of a single twin bed with its bedding, since the bedding surface preserves all its resiliency represented by the height of the mattress above the axial beam.

Of course, various modifications and alterations may be brought to the device described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, the longitudinal axial beam and the manner in which this beam is connected to the hinged axial legs, or the structure of the pivoted elements as well as the relative arrangement and proportions of their control links and arms may be modified to suit various requirements without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. In a convertible sofa-bed adapted to be unfolded in the longitudinal direction ofthe bed to form a twin bed, which comprises successive intermediate and end elements hingedly interconnected by means of transverse pivot pins, two chests mounted on the end elements to constitute therewith the back of the seat or the head of the bed and the seat proper or the foot of the bed, respectively, lateral supporting legs pivoted on said intermediate elements, lateral links interconnecting said elements with one another and with said legs, and means provided for enabling the chest mounted on the element forming therewith the seat or the foot of the bed to tilt about this element in order to bring same in a low position and to increase the distance from thehead to the foot of the bed in the bed position of the apparatus, the spring-mattress frame of the bed consisting of said intermediate elements and of the end element forming at the same time with the chest mounted thereon the seat or the foot of the bed, said chests being placed at right angles to the plane of said spring-mattress frame in the bed position of the apparatus, the improvements consisting in that said spring-mattress frame comprises an axial longitudinal carrier beam pivoted on pivot pins registering with the transverse pivot pins of said elements, that springs are arranged `between said axial beam and the sides of said elements forming the spring-mattress frame to constitute twin spring mattresses, that axial legs which do not protrude above the plane of the spring mattress frame are pivoted by means of pivot pins on said axial beam and register in transverse alignment with the lateral legs of said intermediate elements and that tie members are provided for rigidly assembling said lateral legs with said axial legs in order to stiifen said spring-mattress frame and permit the transmission of the movements controlled by said lateral links.

2. A convertible sofa according to claim l. wherein said axial longitudinal pivoted beam consists of a pair of parallel, closely-spaced and pivoted longitudinal members, interconnected by short distance-pieces at spaced intervals, said pivot pins of said longitudinal beam and of said axial legs being mounted between said parallel longitudinal members.

3. In a convertible sofa-bed adapted to be unfolded in the longitudinal direction of the bed to form a twin bed, which comprises two intermediate and two end elements hingedly interconnected in the longitudinal direction of the bed about transverse pivot pins, two chests mounted on the end elements to constitute therewith the back of the seat or the head of the bed and respectively the seat proper or the foot of the bed, lateral supporting legs pivoted on said two intermediate elements, lateral links interconnecting said elements with one another and with said legs, and means provided for enabling the chest mounted on the element forming therewith the seat or the foot of the bed to tilt about this element in order to bring same in a low position, and to increase the distance from the head to the toot of the bed in the bed position of the apparatus, the spring-mattress frame of the bed consisting of said two intermediate elements and of the end element forming at the same time with the chest mounted thereon the seat or the foot of the bed, and said chests being placed at right angles to the plane of said spring-mattress frame in the bed position of the apparatus, the improvements consisting in that said spring-mattress frame comprises an axial longitudinal carrier beam consisting of a pair of parallel adjacent longitudinal members interconnected by short distancepieces at spaced locations and pivoted on pivot pins registering with said transverse pivot pins of said elements, that springs are arranged between said axial beam and the sides of said elements forming the spring-mattress frame to constitute twin spring-mattresses, that axial legs which do not protrude above the plane of said springmattress frame are pivoted by means of pivot pins on said axial beam and register in transverse alignment with the lateral legs of said intermediate elements, that tie members are provided for rigidly assembling said lateral legs and said axial legs in order to stiifen said springmattress frame and transmit the movements controlled by said lateral links when the `device is opened or closed. and that said longitudinal members pivots and said axial legs pivots are mounted lbetween said parallel longitudinal members.

4. A convertible sofa-bed as set forth in claim 3, wherein spring jacks are arranged between the sides of an intermediate element and the lateral legs mounted on these sides.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Karpen Mar. 21, 1911 Rasmussen Mar. 5, 1918 Frank Oct. 15, 1918 Musgrave Apr. 20, 1926 Simpson Jan. 10, 1928 Bebry Ian. 13, 1953 8 Ducrot Mar. 30, Thomas July 24, Ducrot Aug. 4,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland July l, Italy Nov. 19, Canada an. 8, France Oct. 13,`

(1st addition to No. 1,034,600) France Jan. 12, 

